''Mercedes of Castile; or, The Voyage to Cathay'' is an 1840 historical novel by
James Fenimore Cooper. The novel is set in 15th-century Europe, and follows the preparations and expedition of
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
* lij, Cristoffa C(or)ombo
* es, link=no, Cristóbal Colón
* pt, Cristóvão Colombo
* ca, Cristòfor (or )
* la, Christophorus Columbus. (; born between 25 August and 31 October 1451, died 20 May 1506) was a ...
westward to the new world.
Archival materials
A full manuscript of the novel is held at the Clifton Waller Barrett Library of American Literature in the
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
The Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia is a research library that specializes in American history and literature, history of Virginia and the southeastern United States, the history of the Universit ...
at the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...
.
Contemporary reception
''
The New York Review of Books
''The New York Review of Books'' (or ''NYREV'' or ''NYRB'') is a semi-monthly magazine with articles on literature, culture, economics, science and current affairs. Published in New York City, it is inspired by the idea that the discussion of i ...
'' reviewed the novel in 1840 and was unimpressed, saying the novel was not contributing to "any great increase of fame or fortune to Mr Cooper".
The review continued to describe the novel as not including much "romance", instead successfully focusing on the historical elements.
[ In 1978, critic Kennedy Williams, Jr. agreed with the assessment, noting that the novel uses history well and accurately, but is Cooper's best example of the combination of history and fiction when "fail ngmiserably" in Cooper's novels.]
References
Further reading
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External links
''Mercedes of Castile; or, The Voyage to Cathay'' (1840) Plot summary
from the James Fenimore Cooper Society
1840 American novels
Historical novels
Novels set in the 15th century
Novels by James Fenimore Cooper
Cultural depictions of Christopher Columbus
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